Tony Pulis and his recruitment team have a head-start advantage on some of their rivals this summer.

As Everton manager Marco Silva and new director of football at Goodison Marcel Brands touched on this week, the earlier transfer deadline doesn't favour new managers.

Bosses in the Championship such as Frank Lampard, Gary Rowett, Graham Potter and whoever gets the gig at Leeds United will welcome their squads back for pre-season at the end of June and will have little more than a month to assess the players and make snap decisions on who stays and who goes - as well as deciding which areas need strengthening.

Pulis already knows the Boro departments that need strengthening and has done for a month and more. He'll also have a good idea as to which players will move on this summer.

Marvin Johnson, linked with Birmingham City this week , wasn't part of the manager's plans last season and will almost certainly be allowed to move on, providing the club receive an offer they deem acceptable, obviously.

Decisions will also be made on players who spent last season out on loan. Martin Braithwaite will want to put himself in the shop window in Russia, while Julien de Sart has already admitted he'd be keen on a move.

Back in January Pulis was still learning about his squad so was reluctant to make too many changes. The coming weeks won't be seen by the manager as an opportunity to completely overhaul his squad by any means, but he'll obviously tinker. He'll add and improve.

Tony Pulis

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Boro are understood to be keen on adding width, regardless of what happens with Adama Traore, and will also look to add cover at full-back. Having tried to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic in January, Pulis must also decide whether tinkering up-top is required. Or did the current strikers on the club's books do enough in the second half of last season to convince the boss he already possesses enough firepower in his ranks?

But for all the debate about who comes in, who are the players currently on the books who Pulis must keep hold of this summer?

We asked you for your verdict in our keep or sell widget, and six players in particular received extremely significant backing.

Of the thousands of fans to take part, more than 85% said Boro should keep all of the below half a dozen players.

Daniel Ayala - 96.7% say keep

Ayala's improvement under Pulis - in both boxes - was both eye-catching and incredibly impressive.

The Spaniard ticks the boxes of what Pulis looks for in a central defender and clearly benefited from the tutelage of the Welshman, enjoying his best period of form since the Championship promotion winning season.

And he can only get better.

A full pre-season under Pulis and the prospect of playing a full campaign in a settled back five is exciting for the 27-year-old.

In all seriousness, it wouldn't be foolish to back Ayala to reach double figures in goals next term, such is the threat he offers from set-pieces. And he'll also be key to the strong defensive foundations from which Pulis will look to build his team.

If Ben Gibson does indeed move on, Ayala's experience and leadership will also be crucial.

He has a hugely important role to play next season.

Dani Ayala scores at Sheffield United (Image: CameraSport)

Dael Fry - 95.6% say keep

Is 2018/19 the season that Dael Fry progresses from promising youngster to first team fixture?

That depends on what happens with Ben Gibson, but if he leaves the club then Fry clearly has significant backing from the stands to step up and step in.

He has backing from the boss, too. Fry was the player Pulis singled out - unprompted - for praise after the play-off second leg at Villa Park.

Was that Tony Pulis waving his man management wand to send Fry into the summer on a high, knowing the 20-year-old could play a key role next term?

If Gibson goes, Pulis is likely to look for defensive reinforcements. He won't want to risk being short in the heart of the defence.

The good news is the surgery on that abdominal problem went well and Randolph is now recovering and hoping to be fully fit for pre-season.

From Boro's point of view, the Randolph signing was money well spent last summer.

What will be interesting on the keeper front is what Pulis decides to do with Connor Ripley.

Will Ripley dislodge Dimi from the bench and become Boro's new deputy? At 25, would he be happy with that or does he want to establish himself as a regular No.1 elsewhere?

Darren Randolph (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Patrick Bamford - 92.9% say keep

After that blistering spell in February and March, Bamford's season petered out somewhat after sustaining that injury against Bristol City, with the 24-year-old unable to force his way back into the side ahead of Britt Assombalonga.

In that devastating spell of form, though, when he bagged nine goals in seven games, Bamford not only showed the class that we all knew he possessed, more importantly he demonstrated that he can be a success as a lone frontman in a Tony Pulis system.

He might not necessarily tick all the boxes Pulis looks for in a striker but he's a weapon at this level. That is not in doubt.

Bamford was the first to admit he wasn't exactly sure he'd fit the mould of what Pulis looks for in a striker after the Welshman's appointment, but he demonstrated discipline when playing in that wide left role and then took his chance when moved up-top.

Last summer Bamford returned to pre-season early to ensure he was in tip-top shape. He was desperate to get a stuttering career back on track.

Last season didn't go completely to plan but the signs in flashes were promising. He'll return to pre-season this time around keen on showing Pulis he can play a starring role next term.

Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison celebrate at Ipswich

Adama Traore - 87.9% say keep

For the near-88% saying keep, Adama Traore is presumably the key to Boro's success next season.

For the 12% saying sell, now is presumably the time to cash in on the winger while his stock is so high.

If this poll was carried out last summer or as recently as early January, the 'keep' figure would have been nowhere near as high as it is now.

But that was before he started terrorising defences by the week. That was before he found consistency and a final product. That was before Tony Pulis started to get the best out of a player who is undoubtedly one of the most exciting and talented at this level.

So what do Boro do with him this summer?

There's interest and calls are bound to be made, but do Boro rebuff any enquiries and look to get even more out of the winger in what will hopefully be a more balanced attack next season?

Or will an eye-watering offer land at the club's door that's deemed too good to turn down?

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Fabio - 87.7% say keep

Interesting.

Here is a player who wanted to leave in January and a player who didn't make a single start under Tony Pulis.

Yet, according to fans who took took part in this poll, it's more important that Boro keep Fabio this summer than it is first team regulars such as Adam Clayton, Ben Gibson, Jonny Howson, Britt Assombalonga and George Friend.

It's testament to his attitude and approach and to the energy and spirit he displayed in the second half of the season.